Firearms target device for indicating the shot velocity and pattern



Nov. 15, 1966 F. A. LAGE 3,285,066

FIREARMS TARGET DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE SHOT VELOCITY AND PATTERN Filed Aug. 6, 1965 1 7,? J B QM Z M United States Patent 3,285,066 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 lice 3,285,066 7 FIREARMS TARGET DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE SHOT VELOCITY AND PATTERN Frederick A. Lage, Gladbrook, Iowa Filed Aug. 6, 1063, Ser. No. 300,280 4 Claims. (Cl. 73-167) This invention relates to a target device and in particular to a target for determining the shot pattern and velocity.

Two important factors considered by sportsmen in selecting a shotgun and ammunition are what will be the pattern and range of the shot. The degree of choke of the weapon and the construction of the shell will have considerable influence on the shots pattern and velocity.

To concentrate or hold the pellets of a shotguns load together as they travel through the air, the bore diameter of shotgun barrels is made slightly smaller at the muzzle. This constriction is called choke and it controls both the size and density of shotgun patterns. The more choke (to a certain limit) th smaller the pattern and the thicker its pellets are concentrated. Less choke gives a wider distribution of shot with the individual pellets scattered further apart from each other.

Chokes are measured by the percentage of shot pellets the barrel will shoot inside a 30 inch circle at a range of 40 yards. Any gun shooting 70% or over is considered full choke. It is desirable therefore, particularly when the shells are hand-loaded, to test for the choke.

Similarly, it is important to know the shot velocity because the range of the weapon will largely depend upon this factor. Since in hand-loading of shells so many factors influence the performance of the shell, it is desirable to test the shells for the shot velocity. Furthermore since the pattern and velocity of shotgun shells will vary from weapon to weapon, it is desirable to test for these factors when using factory load-ed shells.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a target device which will indicate the pellet pattern and velocity of a shotgun shell.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a target device which has a first target for indicating the shell pattern which may be used over and over again and thus has an indefinite life.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a target device having a film of viscous material spread on its face which may be respread over the target face after each use,

It is a further object of this invention to provide a target device which may be easily folded into a compact unit thereby making it completely portable.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a target device having a first target unit for indicating the shot pattern and a second target unit secured thereto for holding a plurality of individual target elements for indicating the shell velocity.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a target device having two target units wherein the second target unit holds the target device in an extended open position for use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a firearms target device for indicating the shot velocity and pattern which is sirnple in design, economical to manufacture and refined in appearance.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the target device of this invention in position ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the target device in FIG. 1 and showing in particular one of the target sections in both its open fully extended position and in its partially closed position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the target unit employed in the target device for indicating in particular the shot velocity;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the target device in its folded closed position; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the target unit shown in FIG. 3.

The target device is shown in FIG. 1 and generally referred to by the reference numeral 10. It basically comprises a target 12 for testing the pattern of the shot and a target unit 14 (FIG. 2) for indicating the shot velocity.

The target 12 comprises a pair of metal panel sections 16 and 18 hinged together along one edge at 20 and 21. Along the same edges centrally of the target, semi-circular recesses 21 and 22 are formed which cooperate to provide a circular opening 23 in the target when the sections 16 and 18 are extended as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A flange 24 extends around the outer peripheral edge of the sections. The target 12, in its fully extended open position, measures approximately 38 inches by 38 inches, which is sufficiently large enough to accommodate a circle 30 inches in diameter.

The target 12 is held in a vertical position ready for use by a pair of foot members 26 and 28 hingedly connected to the back sides of sections 16 and 18 respectively. In FIGS. 1 and 2 they are shown extended and in FIG. 4 foot member 28 is folded back against the back side of the target section 18.

The forward sides of sections 16 and 18 provide target faces 30 and 32 respectively. These faces are covered with a film of viscous pigment material that will not dry or freeze and can be spread out uniformly over the target faces 30 and 32 after each firing. A preferred formula for the film of material to be applied to the target faces 30 and 32 comprises a mixture of white petroleum jelly and powdered titanium. The jelly prevents the treatment from drying out or freezing and the titanium gives the target the necessary coloring required to indicate where shot pellets have contacted the target faces 16 and 18 since at each point of pellet contact the target faces will be bare of the film of material.

Centrally of the target sections 16 and 18 adjacent the hinged edges, bolts 34 and 36 are provided for securing the target unit 14 thereto. The target 14 comprises a support plate 38 (FIG. 3) for mounting on the bolts 34 and 36. A cylindrical member 40 is secured at its bottom forward edge to the support plate 38. When the target unit 14 is mounted in a position ready for use as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 it bridges the space between the adjacent inside edges of the sections 16 and 18 to essentially convert them into a rigid integral target unit.

The cylindrical member 40 has a central opening 42 which is positioned in alignment with the opening 23 in the target 12. Formed along the length of the cylindrical member 40, extending from the top side downwardly, are a plurality of spaced parallel slots 44 provide substantially circular gripping elements 46. A small peripheral portion 48 remains after the slots 44 have been formed, and extends longitudinally of the cylindrical member 40 between the ends of the slots 44 and serves as a back bone for holding the gripping elements 46 together in the shape of a cylindrical member. As shown in FIG. 2 the slots 44 then receive cardboard or the like target sheet members 50 which extends substantially across the cylindrical opening 42 and rest upon the back bone portion 48 at the bottom thereof.

Thus it is seen that in operation the target device is set up as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a film of petroleum jelly and pigment is applied to the target faces 30 and 32. If desired a circle having a '30 inch diameter may be stencilled through the film material to provide the exact target size ordinarily used in testing the shot pattern. After a test shot has been fired, the shots'will smear the film material and the number of spots or marks on the target faces 30 and 32 bare of film are counted to determine the shot pattern. With this information the degree of choke for the particular ammunition and weapon being used may be determined. To conduct another test all that is required is to smooth out the film of material over the bare spots and the target again is ready for use. This procedure may go on indefinitely until additional film material is required at which time another treatment may be applied to the target faces 16 and 13.

In determining the muzzle velocity or the shot velocity, consideration is given to the number of pellets entering the opening 23 and thereby penetrating the target elements 50 held by the target unit 14. It is to be understood that the number of pellets passing through the target elements 50 will progressively decrease as a function of the distance from the rear of the sections 16 and 18.

The procedure for determining the muzzle velocity of the pellets is very simple. First, a factory loaded shell which has a known muzzle velocity is fired at the target 12 and the number of pellets passing through the first target element 50 immediately behind the sections 16 and 18 is determined, Next the target element 50 having only half the pellets penetrating it is ascertained. For example, if ten pellets penetrate the first target element 50 behind the target 12 and five of them continue through the fourth target element 50 then the fourth target 50 is the reference target for testing hand-loaded shells. The hand-loaded shells are then fired and if, for instance, eight pellets penetrate the first target 59 then for the shell to correspond to the factory loaded shell, four pellets should have penetrated the fourth target member 50 behind the target 12. Until the factory loaded shells and the hand-loaded shells produce the same test results the user will modify his loading procedures in any appropriate manner such as increasing or decreasing the powder included in each shell.

As indicated above the target device is completely portable by removing the target unit 14 and folding the sections 16 and 18 together such that section 16 flanges 24 fit in mating engagement on the inside of flanges 24 on section 18 as shown in FIG. 4. With the support foot members 26 and 28 folded back against the sections 16 and 18, a completely portable target device is provided. Moreover, by the sections 16 and 18 being placed in overlapping relationship with respect to each other, the target faces 30 and 32 are protected against the elements such as dirt or the like and thus may be stored for any length of time and be ready for immediate use.

From a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, it will be obvious that all of the initially recited objects of the present invention have been achieved.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my firearms target device for indicating the shot velocity and pattern without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a target device for indicating the pattern and velocity of $119; IOIn firearms, comprising,

a target of metal material having a flat target face;

a film of viscous material covering the target face and having a consistency which will smear upon impact from a shot, said film including a visible pigment;

an elongated hollow member secured at one end to said target and being exposed at one end on the target face side of said target, said hollow member being perpendicular to said target face, said hollow member having a plurality of spaced parallel transverse slots formed through substantially the entire peripheral wall thereof; and

individual target members adapted to be recived in said slots and held in spaced parallel relationship to each other, each of said target members adapted to substantially close said hollow member in the plane of the respective receiving slot.

2. In a target device for indicating the pattern and velocity of shot from firearms, comprising,

a target of metal material having a flat target face, said target having a central opening formed therethrough;

a film of visible pigment material covering the target face and having a consistency which will smear upon impact from a shot;

an elongated hollow member secured at one end to the rear of said target and having an open end in alignment with said opening in said target, said hollow member having a plurality of spaced parellel transverse slots formed through substantially the entire peripheral wall thereof defining a plurality of elements and leaving a small peripheral portion integrally interconnecting said elements; and

individual target members adapted to be received in said slots and held in spaced parallel relationship to each other by said plurality of elements, each of said target members adapted to substantially close said hollow member in the plane of the respective receiving slot.

3. In a firearms target, comprising,

a member of metallic material having a smooth target face, said material being sufiiciently hard to repel shot from said firearms; and

a film of substantially non-adhesive viscous material covering the target face of said member, said film of material including a pigment and having a consistency which will smear upon impact from a shot.

4. In a firearms target, comprising,

a member of metallic material having a smooth target face, said material being sufficiently hard to repel shot from said firearms;

a film of pigment material covering the target face, and

an elongated member secured to the opposite side of said member from said target face, a plurality of holding means spaced along the length of said member, and a plurality of target members, each of said holding means adapted to receive one target member and hold it in spaced parallel relationship with the other target members, said metal member having a hole extending therethrough and adapted to be in line with the center of said target members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 197,398 11/1877 ONeil 73--167 780,443 1/ 1905 Phillips et al. 2,145,434 1/1939 Rubin 273-102 2,308,672 1/1943 Brady 73-l67 2,713,262 7/1955 Webster 73-167 DAVID SCHONBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A TARGET DEVICE FOR INDICATING THE PATTERN AND VELOCITY IF SHOT FROM FIREARMS, COMPRISING, A TARGET OF METAL MATERIAL HAVING A FLAT TARGET FACE; A FILM OF VISCOUS MATERIAL COVERING THE TARGET FACE AND HAVING A CONSISTENCY WHICH WILL SMEAR UPON IMPACT FROM A SHOT, SAID FILM INCLUDING A VISABLE PIGMENT; AN ELONGATED HOLLOW MEMBER SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID TARGET AND BEING EXPOSED AT ONE END ON THE TARGET FACE SIDE OF SAID TARGET, SAID HOLLOW MEMBER BEING PERPENDICULAR TO SAID TARGET FACE, SAID HOLLOW MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED PARALLEL TRANSVERSE SLOTS FORMED THROUGH SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE PERIPHERAL WALL THEREOF; AND INDIVIDUAL TARGET MEMBERS ADAPTED TO BE RECIVED IN SAID SLOTS AND HELD IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID TARGET MEMBERS ADAPTED TO SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSE SAID HOLLOW MEMBER IN THE PLANE OF THE RESPECTIVE RECEIVING SLOT. 